The acts of the sinful nature and the fruit of the Spirit seem to battle all our lives. How do we do this? Maybe that is the question the Galatians are asking also.
It is worth reminding ourselves that 5:14 is the crucial text in this letter, ‘Love your neighbour as yourself’.
“The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.” (Galatians 5 v 19-26)
This last verse is key. That’s what Paul is focusing on. The church. How we relate to one another.
Perhaps the false teachers are boasting about what’s not there, they are conceited and are offering some social status to the Galatians if they follow them. Paul calls it out. Provoking is in the area of feeling superior to one another, one upmanship. Paul calls it out. Envying of each other’s position or title or achievements again Paul calls it out.
There’s no place for this in the church or any group within the church. We have to be better than the world.
That’s the focus for the acts v the fruit.
Now you might disagree with this because you may have been brought up on rules and been taught a God of rules and maybe you are right. But I am finding that my life with Christ calls me not to focus on other people’s interpretation of rules for living. My life with Christ calls me not to focus on being what others want me to be, holy, blameless and a good man but to be who He has made and continues to make me. I have found my life with Christ is about Him and not me. I feel free in that.
Paul says we belong to the One who is all in all; we have been crucified, past tense; and thirdly we keep in step with the Spirit, we are in alignment with Him. That’s how we respond. That’s how we battle the acts v the fruit. Jesus Christ is everything and at every moment of our life; we have become dead to those things that take us away from Christ and the Spirit is now our guide through this life we live.
The Message says of what Paul said on Colossians 3 v11, “Words like Jewish and non-Jewish, religious and irreligious, insider and outsider, uncivilized and uncouth, slave and free, mean nothing. From now on everyone is defined by Christ, everyone is included in Christ.”
The Message helps.
Everyone is defined by Christ, everyone is included in Christ. Isn’t that amazing?! Isn’t that the most important thing to centre our thoughts on?!
So?
- As you have died with Christ, hidden and raised with Him, you are not where you think you are at times. You are above your circumstances. Stay there.
- There is a way of life you used to live, don’t be tempted to go back there.
- Don’t pretend to be someone you are not anymore.
- Everything now is about Christ, let your life remain so.
- Ask the Spirit to guide you today.
Missions Paul 